Was frustrated to not play the Pune Test – Usman Khawaja

Usman Khawaja, 30, finds himself at crossroads. He has just been overlooked for the fifteen-member Champions Trophy squad.

“Maybe when I was younger, I would have been frustrated (at the selections on the India tour). In saying that, (I mean) obviously I would have loved to play in that Test series. When I didn’t get to play in that first Test, I was a bit frustrated,” Khawaja told foxsports.com.au on Friday (April 21).

“It is tough one because the way I look at it was Reny (Matthew Renshaw) and (David) Warner were going to open, (Steve Smith) was going to play, Petey (Peter Handscomb) was going to play, it was probably going to be between me and Shaun Marsh and he got hundred in the last test match in Sri Lanka. The selectors went for a gut feel I assume and that is their job.

“I have not played a Test match in India yet and it is hard fact to take it because at least I can prove to myself and to other people that I can do well out here.

But on the same token, as the saying goes on in sport – ‘if you hang on for too long there is more negative that comes out than positive'”

Usman Khawaja expressed frustration at missing out on international matches to prepare for Test matches he never featured in. The southpaw was pulled out of the one-Day International matches against New Zealand to be able to participate in a ten-day preparatory camp in Dubai.

“The most frustrating thing for me was not to play those three ODIs in New Zealand. Getting pulled out from them to come to Dubai to prepare for 10 days and then not play the first Test. So I actually miss out on the one-day matches for Australia. For me that was the tough part.

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